The Forge (I), Constantin Kiseleff 1883

The building acts as a quiet space and it’s open for all on Saturday 14:00 – 23:00.

The forge served as a metalwork instruction facility and workshop until 1905 when the new drawing and carpentry building Villa Rana was built. Thereafter the forge became a workshop and storage for maintenance equipment.

During the Continuation War, it was converted into a shelter, and it simultaneously received a small entrance room. From the 1950s to the 1990s, it was used by the regional district staff of the National Board of Public Buildings as, for example, a repair workshop. In 1995 it was refurbished as a sanctuary for the University of Jyväskylä staff and students and named ‘Vanha paja’, Old Forge.

Spectrolite from Ylämaa in Southern Karelia has been used in the interior front wall of the sanctuary. The floor is made of black granite from Viitasaari in Northern Central Finland. In the entrance room, you can see the rug Neljä vuodenaikaa (‘Four seasons’, 2010) by textile artist Jaana Koponen. The wool felt work Rautaa takomassa (‘Forging iron’, 2009) by visual artist Outi Aho is attached to the front wall of the sanctuary. Its theme reflects the history of the building.